Report: 76ers' Collins to resign

Philadelphia 76ers head coach Doug Collins has told team owners that he will resign at the end of this season, Yahoo! Sports reported Sunday.

Collins, 62, will leave with one year left on his four-year contract. He would have been paid $4.5 million next season.

He may stay with the franchise in a another role, however, possibly in the front office.

The Sixers are 33-47 and in ninth place in the East.

The 76ers got to the Eastern Conference semifinals last year, then traded for All-Star center Andrew Bynum over the summer.

But Bynum did not play at all this season because of knee problems.

Not only is Collins reportedly leaving, but 76ers president Rod Thorn may move into a consultant's role after this season.

The 76ers handled the Cavaliers 91-77 in Philadelphia's home finale Sunday afternoon.

Collins owns a 109-119 record as coach of the Sixers.

"The expectations, the moves that were made in the offseason — I give (majority owner Josh Harris) and the organization credit (because) they swung for the fences," Collins said. "Unfortunately, with Andrew getting hurt, it changed the whole dynamics of our season."

The Sixers led from start to finish, jumping out to a 19-3 lead 6 1 2 minutes into the game.

Dorell Wright led six Sixers in double figures with 15 points. Jrue Holiday, Thaddeus Young and Spencer Hawes each had 14.

Philadelphia ended up 23-18 at home. But it is just 10-29 on the road.

NOTES: At halftime, the Sixers honored members of the 1982-83 NBA championship team, including Julius Erving and Moses Malone. Erving, as usual, received the loudest and longest ovation. … Scott on what former Sixers Speights, who is a Cleveland reserve, needs to do to improve: Probably just play a little bit harder at times. The Cavaliers Daniel Gibson returned after missing five games with a sore right elbow to score two points and 12 minutes. … The Sixers close out the season by visiting the Pistons (Monday) and Pacers (Wednesday), while the Cavaliers host the Heat (Monday) and visit the Bobcats (Wednesday).